Stockholm Syndrome || Stucky

Chapter 5-Irresistible

A/N
.......... = perspective/place/drastic time change
Example text = flashback

..........

The words rung around Bucky's ears like the aftermath of a siren. Did Steve know? He surely didn't keep it very discreet, having the metal arm. But he didn't want Steve to know. He didn't want Steve to be afraid.
Bucky could feel the silence becoming awkward while he thought of a response. Should he tell Steve the truth? Should he pretend he didn't know what he was talking about? He didn't have the answer to Steve's question and yet, he wanted it badly. He wanted Steve, so badly.
His mind raced. Did Steve really want the truth from him? Or did he want reassurance? Would Steve treat him differently if he confessed the truth? What would happen to him if he did?
Bucky wasn't Hydra's toy anymore. He didn't want Steve to think of him like that. But he knew he would.
He had no more excuses. His time was up. How would he explain the identical metal arm? How would he explain the incident on the fifth floor? Did Steve even know about that?

Bucky sighed and looked away from Steve. He stayed silent, biting his lip to hold back the sobs trying to escape his mouth. The sobs caused by the thought of how much hurt he had caused over the years. He blinked the tears away. He wasn't prepared for Steve to think he was weak. He was certainly scared of his past, but he didn't want anyone to know. Let alone Steve.

"Bucky?" Steve spoke softly, interrupting Bucky's thoughts. Bucky gulped nervously, turning his head to look at Steve.
Bucky needed a way to buy more time. His eyes darted around the room before taking the now warm ice pack off his head and handing it to Steve, with his free arm Steve had set free the previous day.
"Burning up." He said quietly, refusing eye contact. Steve nodded, taking the ice pack and getting up from the chair. He exited the room shortly after.

Bucky lay there, deep in thought. He only had a couple minutes to think. But he knew nothing would come of it. He knew he had to tell Steve the truth. Bucky felt tense, his muscles ached. He needed something to take the pain away.
He closed his eyes slowly, trying to escape the sunlight creeping into the room. He felt his metal arm try recalibrating, after days of it not being in use. He groaned, thinking of the times he couldn't control the arm, how it seemed to have a mind of its own.
"Stop it." He spoke aloud to himself, shaking head. He felt tied down to the bed, so weak he couldn't move. So weak from fighting it he could no longer.

..........

The alley was dark. Two people stood, either end. Two men. The first man stood tall. His face covered with a mask and dark glasses around his eyes, his long brown hair cascading over. He was muscular, both arms. One metal. Of course, The winter soldier had arrived.
The other man studied the shadow in front of him. Realising immediately who it belonged to and beginning to tremble. His time had come. The first man slowly walked towards him, the second frozen in fear. The winter soldier grabbed the second man by the throat and threw him up against the wall, not letting him go. The man pleaded for his life, but both knew his time was up. The first man stayed silent, ignoring the mans pleading. The winter soldier tightened his grip around the mans neck, not letting go even as the man kicked and tried to get away.
He heard a scream at the end of the alleyway. His head snapped to look, watching a woman screaming in terror. She shouted the second mans name, the wife. The winter soldier had no time for love. He rolled his eyes, taking out his gun and shooting the woman until she dropped to the floor. The man screamed in sadness, crying not only for his life, but for the loss of his wife's.
The grip tightened around his neck once more until he fell unconscious, dead. The first man dropped his body to the ground, dusting himself off. He walked his way back down the alley way swiftly and calmly, back to his motorcycle.

..........

Meanwhile, Steve stood out in the hallway, looking around for any nurses to help. Eventually Peggy left another patients room with an empty tray.
"Hey. Peggy." Steve called out, walking to her. "Sorry to bother you. Bucky says he needs another." He held the ice pack up. Peggy balanced the tray in one hand and took the ice pack with the other.
"One moment." She smiled, walking away. Steve waited for a few minutes, his hands in his pockets, looking around. He had never really noticed how bleak the place looked until now.
"A little decoration never hurt anyone did it Howard?" Steve mumbled to himself, shaking his head.
"Here you go." Peggy said, walking back over to him. She gave him another ice pack wrapped in another small towel. "Give him three of these and get him to swallow it down with this." She handed him a small bottle of painkillers and a glass of water. "Oh and wear the mask. We don't want you catching it too." She put the loops over Steve's ears, adjusting it to cover his nose and mouth.
"Thank you." He said, smiling behind the mask, although she couldn't see. She nodded and went back to her job, entering another patients room.